Treating estrogen responsive cancer naturally
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If I had it to do over, I wouldn't have done the rads. I have told several recently diagnosed friends to take their time and do their research before making their decisions; not to make them based on fear, which is what I did. My mom had a mastectomy (lumpectomies weren't done routinely then) and no other treatment. She was 13 years post surgery when she died of a non-cancer related cause. I can't unring the bell, but I would definitely made decisions in hindsight.
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Smo23915 I am pretty certain I saw somewhere on these boards that some women on Tamoxifen were also taking the DIM and that it was improving the severity of their SE. I also read that there is a study currently underway of women who take Tamoxifen first and then DIM. I never took Tamoxifen so I don't know personally.
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To answer Sharon's question from the previous page: yes, my (integrative) onc actually recommended I take the DIM, along with numerous other supplements. I have been taking it for a little over 2 years now.
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What do you ladies know about taking DIM and letrozole at the same time? Would it be helpful or a bad idea? I want to take the DIM but too afraid to stop the letrozole. For now anyway. Thanks :-)
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didn't do the rads because the doc told me my heart would be in the radiation field.
Same here.
Heart and lungs- and I *already* have lung disease.
However, at MassGeneral, I looked into APBI ( accelerated partial breast irradiation) that is suppose to be much more targeted. Later, I discovered it was still experimental/clinical trial (NO, they had not told me yet and I did meet with rads dr.) and then I looked up the stats online and there were no rave reviews in terms of efficacy so I passed.
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I regret doing rads......rib pain, swelling, now lung and heart problems and mine was on right side.....
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Wow. Now I am scared that I had radiation on my right side. I have asthma and if that makes it worse, I'm sunk!
I am very ER+ & PR+ but I can't take Tamox. I have started DIM and my energy level is up, my sex drive is 'vroom, vroom,' LOL. My oily skin and hair are leveling out and I just feel better. Now I have to stick to two a day. I tried three and the results were, shall we say, 'explosive.' I am taking Zinc and Selenium and Resveratol. I haven't told my Onco/dr yet. She is not happy with me a.t. all. She wanted me to have an overectomy and I said, negative. I suffer from serious depression and the Ob/Gyn said it would have damaging effects on my quality of life. So, I am taking the supplements, hoping and praying, and taking the attitude that this was a fluke and this stuff ain't coming back.
**OT: I don't know if any of you watch "The Big C," but the series finale left me feeling peaceful instead of sad, although it was not a happy ending. I think quality of life is important and I pray to God that I NEVER have to go through this again. BTW: premenopausal with high estrogen levels. I am asking for blood work when I go back on the 31st to see if anything has changed with the supplements. Good luck to all of us. God bless!!!
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Well, I had radiation on the left, and with all these reports lately, it's got me wondering. But honestly, my heart is great and no lung problems to speak of, although anytime I cough lately, I'm wondering, is this some type of problem due to the rads? But it's been almost 5 years, so I think any bad effects would have shown up by now.
Glad to hear you didn't get pushed into the oophorectomy Della, and that you found something good that is also making you feel better. The way I understand DIM is that even if you have lots of estrogen, it will metabolize it down the "good" harmless pathway. If you don't mind my asking, what brand of DIM are you using?
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I think you would usually know shortly after the 6 weeks of rads if you became symptomatic ( short of breath etc )
It is more common to have issues if you have a PRE existing lung or heart condition.Try not to even worry about it, ladies. I have a feeling you'll be just fine!
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Mine started four weeks after rads..
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I had light coughing and shortness of breath during and for a short while after the rads, but I also have allergy related asthma and my rads were smack dab in the middle of allergy season, so it may have had nothing to do with the rads. I have been fine since. I think about it occasionally, but try not to worry about things that haven't happened yet. I have enough that has already happened to deal with. You can't unring a bell, so there's really no point. All I can do is take care of my body as best as I possibly can.
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Mushrooms are awesome. You can incorporate them into lots of recipes. They are great on the grill, in salads, and in meatloaf, soups and gravies. I take a supplement when I don't eat them. I've never had any issues.
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Well I placed my order for DIM! Natures way bio whatever. Swanson had it for $18.99 so I got 2. 2 pills are 100mg. I didn't see any higjer doses but I know people are taking 300-400. I will just have to experiment I guess. Can't wait til it gets here. I also ordered collostrum with transfer factor. Been seeing a lot about how good it is so why not.
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Hi Ladies
I was just re reading my FEB 2013 issue of PREVENTION mag and came across a brief ' medical breakthrough" - not an ad, about a product called BreastDefend that claims to show promise, particularly for TNs. I looked it up online:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22842551Looks legit. Seems like DIM and curcumin etc .. may hold promise.
Just posting in case anyone wants to explore.
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I think there's a post called "has anyone tried breastdefend?" Where you can probably find info from people taking it. If I remember correctly a few people were.
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Wow Purple that is some pretty dramatic results! I was a little confused by the delivery method the way they described it.
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Yep. All those med terms making things murky, but they did say :"Oral application of BD..>" So put simply, I do believe they just took it in pill form , by mouth.
I would take it myself if not for my goiter. My BC has me in a world of Catch 22 's. Very ironic, but not so funny.
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That's what I figured but it also said gastric something, and I think it said 100mg/kg. That would be 5400 kg for me. Pretty pricey. I can't help but think there's a solution for the goiter problem and the bc that won't interfere with each other. Endocrinology I'd so complicated though. Years ago I emailed one of the endocrinologists at work to (stupidly) ask about bioidenticals. He told me I would have to talk to a gyn about hrt. Didn't even know what I was talking about.
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there's a solution for the goiter problem and the bc that won't interfere
Unfortunately, it gets complicated.
Currently, I have stopped my lymphedema treatments (manual lymphatic drainage aka MLD) because if a mysterious ' re\ash'- bright red area from neck to chest appearing overnight/ a few weeks ago. Drs thought it was allergies. I have been treated. The area remains pink. Finally, I resumed my MLD one night and it became quite red again. After lots of research, I am beginning to think it may be because of my goiter! Googling manual lymphatic drainage with goiter brought up somw concerning info. Quite possible that I stimulated the thyroid. Of course I can go and get levels checked, but who likes bloodwork with lymphedema?! It is like bumping into a stone wall everywhere I turn.
STILL have the rash- still missing my tx for LE (and BC for that matter!) .
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Rgriuff: I am taking NatureMade enhanced absorb. I am taking two; I have an appt with my onco on May 31 so we will see what new bloodwork says. Keep your fingers crossed and send a prayer my way.
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rgiuff
If you have no lung issues I would not think rads did that - ESP> 5 yrs later. I did get to know a woman here on the forum who had no lung issues and developed some from rads., BUT it was right after rads and took many months and meds to resolve, and now she is back to 100%.
If the cough persists for many many weeks or worsens, I would get it looked into- could be allergies, asthma or something else.
Hopefully, it will resolve on its own.
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Happy dance!! I received good news today! My cancer markers were good and my estradiol level dropped from 180 to 91. I have been on the DIM + for about a month! Boo yaaa!
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I don't get any hormone blood tests, wish i could, this is great info for you.....are you PR positive now?
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I am high in both ER and PR. I didn't even think to ask about the PR, but I'll call. I am just so happy because I can't take the anti-estrogen meds. I haven't had any night sweats either. I am just taking my happy where I can find it these days!
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You are giving me hope too! Can you tell me which DIM plus you are taking please?
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I am taking DIM + enhanced absorption, Nature's Way. Two hundred mg a day, and just moved up to three hundred a day. I am going to have my estradiol checked at the same time every month to see if I can get a baseline.
An OFF TOPIC: Have any of you had shingles since your diagnosis or before. I just found out I have them today--for the third time! My question is what can I take to help build up my immune system. I already take zinc, selenium, resvertrol, DIM, Vit B's, Collagen w/C. I have flaxseed too but don't take it too often. Any suggestions? I am going nuts with trying to figure out why I keep having these recurrences!
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